Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding Topped With A Bacardi Guava Rum Sauce

sweet potato pudding

I enjoy putting my own spin on traditional recipes. Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding is one of them, and it is a popular sweet treat. The Bacardi Guava Rum Sauce, on the other hand, is the star of this recipe. It’s so good that I could eat it with a spoon or spread it on bread or crackers; It is that good!

Sweet Potato Pudding is a long time favorite Jamaican sweet treat. I fell in love with potato pudding as a child. My church sister would sell potato and bread pudding after church services on Sundays. In my eyes, she was and still is the Pudding Queen.

“Hell A Bottom, Hell A Top and Hallelujah In The Middle.”

If you’re a Jamaican, you’ve probably heard the expression “hell at the bottom, hell at the top, and hallelujah in the middle.” It’s the classic way authentic Jamaican sweet potato pudding was baked.
 
Back in the day, ovens were uncommon or non-existent in Jamaica. So our grandparents or great-grandparents baked on an outdoor coal stove.
 

On hot coals, the sweet potato mixture was cooked in a “dutch pot.” To create the illusion of an oven, a zinc sheet was placed on top as a lid, and hot coal was layered on top.

The hallelujah in the middle represents the delicious goodness of the sweet potato pudding sandwich between hot coals on the top and at the bottom.

Despite advancements in oven technology, many Jamaicans still use this method of baking sweet potato pudding today. However, I continue to believe that this method is the best way to bake sweet potato pudding.

Foods or meals that are cooked on an outdoor stove acquire an unexplainable flavor and texture that you would not necessarily taste in meals cooked on a gas or electric stove.

Grandma’s Sweet Potato Pudding

I always had a good time when I went to see my Grandma in the country area of Jamaica during the summer. She cooked all of her meals on her outdoor coal stove at the time. I specifically recall watching her bake sweet potato pudding on her coal stove.

It was my first time witnessing an authentic Jamaican sweet potato pudding being baked in a “coal oven.” It was a fascinating experience, and best of all, I got to eat this Jamaican sweet delicacy.

 
 

sweet potato pudding

Let’s Talk Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes come in a variety of different species that can be found in grocery stores across the United States. We don’t have these different options in Jamaica. Species of sweet potatoes in the United States, on the other hand, vary in texture, flavor, and color.

When I first moved to the United States, I was perplexed by the various types of sweet sweet potatoes that appeared to be quite different but were all referred to as sweet potatoes.

The USDA later changed the name of the white flesh sweet potato to yams to distinguish it from the orange American sweet potato. However, in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica, YAMS are a completely different type of food. It’s one of our favorite starchy root tubers and goes well with a variety of dishes.

 

jamaican sweet potato

 

 Jamaican Sweet Potatoes (Yams).

Caribbean sweet potatoes, or yams as they are commonly known in the United States, have thinner, reddish-purple skin and a rougher exterior. The interior is white.

Because Jamaican sweet potatoes or yams contain less water, they are drier, harder, and starchier in texture. They quickly oxidize and turn brown.

They can be found in some supermarkets, but you can also get them at your local “Korean” or Caribbean market in the United States.

 

 

American Sweet Potatoes 

These are grown in the United States and can be found in most grocery stores.

Sweet potato skin is thicker, smoother, and brownish-orange in color. The interior is a vibrant orange color.

They are softer and silkier in texture when cooked due to their higher water content.

During the Thanksgiving season, they are frequently used in the preparation of dishes such as sweet potato pies and candied yams.

yams

Nutrition and Sweet Potatoes Yams

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer sweet potatoes or yams; both are high in nutrition and have numerous health benefits.

When eaten with the skin, sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber. 1 medium sweet potato with skin contains about 4 g of fiber.

Both yams and sweet potatoes are high in vitamins and minerals:

Vitamin A or Beta-Carotene

Niacin

Potassium

Vitamin B5, B6, C

Magnesium

Manganese

Copper

Iron

Healthline provides detailed and in-depth nutrition information on both yams and sweet potatoes.

You will also enjoy my blog on the Immune Boosting Power Of Carrots.  

Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding with Bacardi Guava Rum Sauce.

sweet potato pudding

Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding Topped With A Bacardi Guava Rum Sauce.

Kevin Foodie
Jamaican sweet potato pudding is a simplified version of an authentic Jamaican sweet potato pudding. The Guava rum sauce is one of my prized recipe creation and you will enjoy the unique flavors it adds to this classic Jamaican sweet treat,
4.82 from 11 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Jamaican
Servings 12

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Oven
  • Whisk
  • Spoons
  • 12 Inches Cast Iron Pot
  • Food Processor or Blender
  • Sauce Pan

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups Jamaican Sweet Potato, Cubed 2 large sweet potatos, 2.5 lbs
  • 1 can Coconut Milk
  • 2 cups Cassava, Cubed Small, 1 lb
  • 1.25 cups Light Brown Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/3 cup Bacardi Coconut Rum
  • 1 tsp Nutmeg
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Almond Extract
  • 2 tsp Salt

Bacardi Guava Rum Sauce

  • 2 cups Guava paste, cubes
  • 1/4 cup Coconut Milk
  • 1/4 cup Warm Water
  • 1/3 cup Bacardi Coconut Rum

Instructions
 

  • Set oven to 375 °F.
    Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding
  • Peel your sweet potato and casava. The potato will oxidize and get brown. This is normal and will not affect the taste of the final product.
    peeled cassava
  • Remove the fibrous center vein in the center of the cassava root. This is inedible and can be a choking hazard.
    cassava
  • Cut sweet potato and cassava into roughly cut cubes
    cubed sweet potatos
  • Add cubes to the food processor. Blender and pulse until fairly smooth. Dump content into the mixing bowl.
    Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding
  • In another bowl, add coconut milk, Bacardi Rum, nutmeg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and brown sugar. Mix all ingredients with a whisk until the sugar dissolves.
    Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding
  • Pour coconut milk mixture onto grated sweet potato mixture. Gently mix until all the ingredients are evenly uniformed.
  • Grease cast iron pot with tablespoons of unsalted butter.
  • Pour Sweet Potato mixture onto cast iron pot.
    Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding
  • Gently tap pot cast iorn or baking tin onto a counter a few times to release air bubbles and even out the mixture inside baking container.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.

Bacardi Guave Rum Sauce

  • Use a sharp knife to cut the guava paste into cubes.
    Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding
  • In the Saucepan add the cubes of guava paste, coconut milk, and water.
    Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding
  • Over low to medium heat, allow cooking while constantly stirring with the metal whisk to avoid burning.
  • Whisk until all the cubes of guava paste are dissolved. At this point add the Bacardi Rum and mix well.
    guava sauce
  • Remove sweet potato pudding from the oven 3-5 minutes before the complete recommended cook time.
    Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding
  • Pour guava sauce onto the top of the baked sweet potato pudding. Place back inside the oven for 3-5 minutes.

Notes

Cast Iron pots are my favorite cooking utensil. It's very functional and you can cook and bake almost anything in this pot. It conducts heat very well and gives your food a nice crust on the outside.
If you do not have a cast-iron pot, a regular baking tin is also suitable. I used a 12 inch cast iron pot.
If you can use a similar size baking tin, it will be ideal. This size will allow for the sweet potato pudding to cook faster and you will get the added benefit of a nice crust on the outside.
Some people add "yellow yam" to their sweet potato pudding. I chose to use cassava because I love the texture that it gives to the potato pudding.
You can use any flavored rum. I love the taste and flavor of Bacardi Coconut Rum. Therefore, I use it as a flavoring agent when baking or cooking.
Keyword Bacardi Coconut Rum, Guava, Jamaican Dessert, Jamaican food, Pudding, Rum, Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato Pudding with Bacardi Rum Sauce.

sweet potato pudding

You will also love this very tasty sweet treat. Click HERE for more details or click on pick to take you to the blog.

Here is another great read. You will enjoy my top favorite bakeries i have visited and enjoyed. Click HERE to take you to the blog.

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20 thoughts on “Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding Topped With A Bacardi Guava Rum Sauce”

  1. 5 stars
    This sweet potato pudding sounds delicious, and the guava rum sauce sounds incredible! I can’t wait to make this recipe!
    Also, all the information about the different sweet potatoes was interesting! Thank you for sharing!

  2. This sounds amazing! I first tried sweet potato pudding while on my honeymoon in Ocho Rios, it was amazing! Going to try to make this for our anniversary that’s coming up next month!

  3. 4 stars
    Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
    The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer.
    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I
    figured I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though!

    Hope you get the problem solved soon. Cheers

  4. 5 stars
    Wow! This sounds incredible and I had never heard of it. I love learning about new foods. It is so interesting to also learn about how people cooked in Jamaica before indoor ovens. That was really interesting! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

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